{"id":8462,"date":"2023-06-08T17:48:03","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T17:48:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/superiorrigstg.wpengine.com\/?p=8462"},"modified":"2025-05-14T11:40:41","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T11:40:41","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-rigging-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/superiorrigging.com\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-rigging-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need to Know About Rigging Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The construction industry is one of the most dangerous in the world and given the heights that are involved in rigging operations, safety training for rigging equipment is vital to prevent injuries for your crew. However, construction isn’t the only industry that can benefit from rigging safety protocols, which help protect your people from a worn wire rope, defective sling, or a crane operator that hasn’t been certified.<\/span><\/p>

With June being<\/span> National Safety Month<\/span><\/a>, we felt it was appropriate to cover some job site practices to help you ensure your employees and contractors stay safe. In this article, we’ll look at why rigging safety is important, the basics to get your crew operating rigging safely, regulations and standards that are used with rigging safety, best practices to improve rigging operation and safety, and how modern technology can help your crew incorporate a better safety factor into their construction site operations. Though this will give you the basics, it’s not a substitute for a professional course or additional training.<\/span><\/p>

The Importance of Rigging Safety<\/b><\/h2>

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Rigging safety incorporates a number of different factors that can impact your worksite safety. Material handling, fall protection, lifting operations, regular inspections of hoisting equipment, hand signal training, work practices and a proper safety culture in your organization can make a big difference in protecting your workers from a serious injury.<\/span><\/p>

According to studies by the Centers for Disease Control<\/span>, 24 out of 40 crane-related fatalities happened because of rigging failure. That’s 60%, a huge improvement is possible if a competent person notices that a synthetic web sling is worn, periodic inspection isn’t forgotten, or safety standards are not ignored.<\/span> The Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/span><\/a> notes a similar statistic of 60% out of 42 fatalities who were struck by something that fell due to a failed rigging.<\/span><\/p>

By treating rigging as something that can be dangerous instead of just another piece of equipment, you can help prevent rigging accidents on your construction site. By setting up protocols and standards for rigging operations, you can ensure that you have fewer workplace injuries and protect your workers from dangerous accidents.<\/span><\/p>

The Basics of Rigging Safety<\/b><\/h2>

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Rigging safety is everyone’s responsibility on the job site. From checking that you’ve got the right load weight for a crane or wire rope to regular inspection of your lifting equipment, these details help save lives. There are four primary aspects of rigging safety:<\/span><\/p>

Correct use of equipment<\/b><\/h3>

The only way you should use your lifting equipment is the right way with safe rigging. Make sure your crew is familiar with the consequences of shock loading, where the load is suddenly increased, shifted, or decreased, causing the wire rope to either strain or recoil. Make sure that proper rigging techniques and hardware are used to avoid accidents. Only use rigging hardware that is approved for that purpose, and only use rigging practices that each piece of equipment is approved for to prevent accidents.<\/span><\/p>

Regular inspection and maintenance<\/b><\/h3>

Regular inspection and maintenance of your equipment is vital. If using synthetic fiber rope slings, alloy steel chain slings, or wire rope slings, take the time to inspect them prior to use to make sure there is no wear or damage that could cause a failure. If a piece of equipment has a paint frame that is chipping or peeling, repaint it to prevent weakness due to corrosion. Create a regular inspection and maintenance schedule for your equipment so that it is checked regularly, and check equipment that has been in storage for a while before using it.<\/span><\/p>

Training and certification<\/b><\/h3>

Whether it’s an online course, an on-site apprenticeship, or an in-person class, making sure that your crane operators and riggers are up to date on their qualifications means that they’re staying updated on the latest changes in the industry. This can include things such as new issues with a previously approved lifting technique. Make sure that you see each individual’s certification rather than taking their word on the matter, because finding out they weren’t a qualified rigger after the fact won’t undo the damage.<\/span><\/p>

Proper planning and risk assessment<\/b><\/h3>

Among the most important documents on your construction site is your lift plan. Whenever you need to make a lift with a crane, the lift plan for that material, load limit, or similar factor should be reviewed to ensure that everyone understands what’s going on. Once you’ve verified the plan, walk through the process with your personnel, ensuring that they’re using the proper hand signals for specific actions. By taking a few extra minutes in the job site office, you can ensure that everyone goes home that evening.<\/span><\/p>

Rigging Safety Regulations and Standards<\/b><\/h3>

In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or<\/span> OSHA<\/span><\/a>, provides crane, rigging, and lifting regulations to promote job site safety. Though it would take a much longer article to cover every aspect of OSHA regulations, here’s a quick overview of the standards and regulations that OSHA requires:<\/span><\/p>